Clement Neff II
Clement Neff II was born May 17, 1711, in Westerly, Washington Co., RI, and died March 12, 1796, in Windham Co., CT, at age 84. Buried in Cedar Swamp Cemetery, North Stonington, New London Co., CT. He is the son of Clement Neff I of Haverhill, Essex Co., MA, and Mary Button of Stonington, Colony of Connecticut.
Patience Brown was born December 28, 1707, in Stonington, New London Co., Colony of Connecticut, and died 1750 in Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut, at about age 42. She is the daughter of Eleazer Brown of Lynn, Essex Co., MA, and Ann Mary Pendleton of Westerly, Washington Co., RI.
Clement Neff II and Patience Brown were married December 17, 1735, at the North Stonington Congregational Church, North Stonington, New London Co., Colony of Connecticut,
Clement Neff II and Patience (Brown) Neff had eight children:
Clement appears to have lived on a farm until his first wife, Susannah, died, at which time, according to Clark's Windham Families, he went to sea, was taken prisoner and was carried to Algiers where he was a captive for twenty-four years, during twelve of which he never saw the sun. He also lost an eye during this period. The same story appears in the History of Windham County by Larned which quotes the Windham Herald as follows: "MARRIED, last week, in the Episcopalian form by Timothy Larrabee, Esq., Mr. Clement Neff of Hampton to Miss Patience Dean of this town." "N.B. Mr. Neff has been a prisoner in Algiers for 24 years, in twelve of which he never saw the sun. He is now in the youthful bloom of sixty-five and has lost an eye--his bride is a blushing maid of twenty-eight." This obviously refers to one of the many incidents where the pirates who infested the Mediterranean captured American ships and imprisoned American sailors.
The first wife of Clement Neff III was Susannah Abbey, the daughter of Benjamin Abbe and Prisella Unknown. They had at least three children: Benjamin Neff born about 1762; Clement Neff IV born about 1764; and Nathaniel Neff born about 1766. Clement Neff III was a soldier, but after his wife Susannah died about 1774 he left the farm and went to sea, where he was taken prisoner by pirates and was carried to Algiers where he was a captive for 24 years. It is likely that the three Neff children (Benjamin about age 12, Clement IV age 10, and Nathaniel age 8) then made their home with their uncle Isaac Abbe (born 1753). When Clement Neff III returned from captivity he married (at age 65) Patience Deans (age 28) on November 17, 1800 in Windham, Windham Co., CT.
The above may help explain why Clement Neff V (born about 1797) accompanied his uncle Isaac Abbey and cousins Isaac Abbey, Nathaniel Abbey, as well as his aunt Dorcas Abbey (who would become married to Oliver Nathan Bradley in 1803), to Canada about 1797. After 1774, Clement Neff IV (born 1764) may have been living with his brother-in-law Isaac Abbey (born 1753).
TIMELINE
https://www.seekingmyroots.com/members/files/G004857.pdf
William More sold Clement Neff 100 acres of land in the North east section of Windham.
MRS. ELISHA EDGERTON ROGERS GENEALOGIST 99 Division Street, NORWICH, - CONN.
During the period of more than ten years’ research work in eastern Connecticut and the adjoining parts of Rhode Island, I have not seen the name of NEFF except in connection with Clement Neff and his descendants.
Clement Neff came from Westerly, Rhode Island, to Windham, Conn., in 1716, as stated in Weaver’s Manuscript of early Windham families, (now in custody of the Connecticut Historical Society); he bought 200 acres of land in two parcels, in the part of Windham, called Canada Parish, which was set off as the town of HAMPTON, in 1786.
Here, on May 9, 1717, he was one of those who petitioned for the establishment of a society for the carrying on of public worship, as given in Miss Larned’s "History of Windham County," Vol.1, page 95.
The births of Clement Neff’s children are recorded at Windham, as per certified copy previously sent; he had three sons, William, Clement, and Thomas, and two daughters, Mary and Ann. Mary died unmarried after the death of her father in 1746, and before her mother in 1752; Ann probably died young, as she is not mentioned in her father or mother’s will. These children were all baptized at Hampton Church; Mary in 1724, and the others in 1725.
On Feb.22, 1731/2, Clement Neff deeded to his "son William Neff, my 100 acre lot on which I now dwell, that is the reversion right after my decease and the decease of his mother Mary," etc.
(Land Rec. Windham, Conn; Vol.7, p. 188.)
On Sept.24, 1734, Clement Neff conveys his land to "his son William Neff---as his full portion of my estate." (Vol.7-304).
The following February, Clement Neff sold the remainder of his land in Windham, and on Feb.26, 1734/5, he bought land in Stonington, Conn., and removed to that place. Part of his land, he sold in 1737, to Eleazer Brown, brother of Patience Brown; (Land Rec. Stonington, Conn.; Vol.4, pps.499, 618.) Clement Neff lived here till his death in 1746.
William Neff, the oldest son, remained in Windham, on the farm given to him by his father; his marriage and the births of his children are recorded on Windham records, as per certified copy. He had no daughter ANN.
Clement Neff, Junr. and Thomas Neff went to Stonington with their father; here Clement married Dec.12, 1735, Patience Brown, who lived in the neighborhood. Thomas Neff married, Dec.25, 1734, Mary Corey; (Vital Record of Rhode Island, Vol.5, WESTERLY, page 47); and had Arnold, born 1735, Derius, born 1737, and Mary, 1739, as recorded on the Stonington records. Thomas died before his father, as Clement Neff’s will, dated May 17, 1746, the "heirs of son Thomas deceased." So he had no daughter ANN.
After the father’s death, Clement Neff, his family, and his mother and sister, went back to Windham, where on June 30, 1747, "Mary Neff Widow and Mary Neff, Singull woman: conveyed for love to Clement Neff," the land which they had bought in January.
(Windham Land Rec. Vol.9, p.12 & 77.)
Clement Neff, Junr. had daughters, ANN & MARY, born Aug.12, 1736, ANN was probably named after her grandmother, Ann (Pendleton) Brown, and after Clement’s sister, Ann; Mary was named after Clement’s mother and sister, as was the custom in those days. This Clement had only two sons who lived to maturity, Clement and John.
Clement, the third of the name, was taken prisoner about 1776, and remained in captivity for twenty four years, and was given up for lost. (See History of Windham County, Vol.2, page 244)
In 1751, Mary Neff and Clement Neff of Windham sold part of their land to Aaron Geer of Preston, Conn.
1757, Oct.25, "Clement Neff’s deed of gift to Ebenezer Abbe [Av?be] John Bond, Oxenbridge Dains and other inhabitants of Windham, a parcel of land 112 rods, being part of the farm I now dwell on--- thence on a line between my own land and land of Aaron Geer--where several persons are already buried."
(Land Rec. Windham, Vol."L", p.436)
After this date, Clement Neff sold various parcels of land. The last sale being from "Clement Neff of Windham to son John Neff, of Windham, for love parental and £100, and Clement" personally appeared at Hampton, and acknowledged the deed on July 10, 1793.
There was no other ANN NEFF in this region at that date, except this daughter of Clement and Patience (Brown) Neff.
Married about 1818 in Upper Canada to Mary Honeywell: Born May 13, 1801, in Northumberland Co., Upper Canada; Died May 25, 1887, in Singhampton, Simcoe Co., Ontario, Canada (age 86).
Benjamin Neff and Anna A. "Anne" Neff were married June 13, 1754, in Hampton (formerly Windham Village), Windham Co., CT.
Benjamin Neff and Anna A. "Anne" Neff Marriage Record.
Susannah Abbe was born November 15, 1760 in Willington, Tolland Co., CT.
Clement Neff IV was born about 1764 in Hampton, Windham Co., CT.
OntB1: CLEMENT NEFF and MARY NEFF. Clement was born in USA, was listed in the 4th Co. Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada Militia Return in 1828. He settled the first time in the New Castle District, Haldimand Twp., Northumberland Co., Ontario and is there in the 1848 census. Some time between 1852 and 1861 the family moved to Nottawasaga Twp., Simcoe Co., Ontario. Original spelling of the surname may have been NAPH and tradition says they were Pennsylvania Dutch (a term applied to any German or Dutch speaking immigrant at that time). Children: Calvin, Isaiah, Salomon, Milo, and Clement, Jr.
PARKER 1861 census 385 page 044 line 20 @ca.on.simcoe.nottawasaga_township section 2 20 NEFF Clement m 64 married 21 NEFF {?} Mary f 58 married 22 NEFF Andrew m 16 23 NEFF Edmund m 28 24 PARKER Ellen f 16
Trying to find out ANY information on my Clement Neff. I have all the information after him. All we know is that he was born in the USA May 10 1797 and died Apr. 9 1881 in Singhampton, Ont. Canada. He married Mary Honeywell. I have information on all of his decendants, but have hit a big brick wall finding out anything about him. I have learned from the Neff News pages, that Clement Neff is the start of the ONT B1 line of the Neffs here in Ontario, but I would really appreciate ANY info in regards to his parents etc. We have been told that he might have been adopted? Could some kind soul please shed some light on this Clement Neff!! Much thanks in advance! Sonja McSorley
My dear Mrs. Kennedy,
I am sending you a certified copy of the NEFF records as they appear on the records of Windham, Conn., and I had the clerk attest that they were full records of the family up to 1752. I said 1752, because that was the latest date on those particular records. The next dates were the marriage Mary Neff to Zachariah Mainard, on Jan.28 1754, and the marriage of Content Neff to Thomas Kingsbury on March 1, 1759.
These were both sisters of Ann Neff. I am also enclosing a certified copy of a record from the certified copy made by the clerk of the Hampton Church, of the marriages of Hampton Church records. This copy belongs to the town clerk of Windham. You will remember that I have a printed reference for this marriage, taken from Bailey’s "Early Connecticut Marriages." but this record omitted the part important to us, namely that they were "both of Windam." (Hampton was set off from Windam, in 1786). Now there was only one ANN NEFF I Windham, at the date of this marriage, nor for many years after.
I trust that this will sufficiently establish Ann Neff as the daughter of Clement Neff and Patience Brown.
Yours truly,
Edna M. Rogers.
The following February, Clement Neff sold the remainder of his land in Windham, and on Feb.26, 1734/5, he bought land in Stonington, Conn., and removed to that place. part of his land, he sold in 1737, to Eleazer Brown, brother of Patience Brown; (Land Rec. Stonington, Conn.; Vol.4, pps.499, 618.) Clement Neff lived here till his death in 1746.
In 1757, Oct.25, "Clement Neff’s deed of gift to Ebenezer Abbey, John Bond, and Oxenbridge Deans and other inhabitants of Windham, a parcel of land 112 rods, being part of the farm I now dwell on--- thence on a line between my own land and land of Aaron Geer--where several persons are already buried."
Children of CLEMENT AND MARY NEFF.
Mary Neff, born June 7, 1707. * William Neff, " Mar.16, 1708/9. * Clement Neff, " May 17, 1711. Thomas Neff, " Mar.12, 1713/14. Ann Neff, " Aug. 3, 1723.
WILLIAM NEFF mar. June 11, 1733, GRACE WEBSTER;
* Benjamin Neff, born May 16, 1734. Ruth Neff, " May 31, 1737. William Neff, " May 14, 1739. Thomas Neff, " July 31, 1744. Book A, page 145 Martha Neff, " Oct. 4, 1742. Joseph Neff, " July 27, 1746. Book B, page 126.
* Ann Neff & Mary Neff born Aug.12, 1736. Clement Neff, " Apr.29, 1738. Content Neff, " Aug.15, 1740. Hannah Neff, " July 6, 1743, & died Sept.13, 1752. John Neff " May 6, 1746. & Mathew Neff " May 6, 1746, & died Sept.15, 1752. Deborah Neff, " Aug.30, 1750.
(HANNAH NEFF mar. Oct.22, 1771, JAMES SPALDING)
"Hannah Spalding, wife of James Spalding, died Aug.24, 1790, aged 35 years." Book B, page 62.
State of Connecticut,
County of Windham, SS. Windham, April 1, 1910.
THIS IS TO CERTIFY that I have examined the foregoing copy of records taken from WindhamTown records, and find the same to be true and correct. Also that the same is a complete copy of the "NEFF" records to be found in the Vital Statistics up to 1752.
Attest: Hepsy Bodru - Asst. Town Clerk Town of Windham, Conn.
State of Connecticut,) ) SS. Windham, April 1, 1910. County of Windham, )
THIS IS TO CERTIFY that on a copy of marriage records of the Congregational Church of Hampton,(formerly Windham Village) prior to the year 1786, is found the following record:
"The marriage of BENJAMIN NEFF & ANNE NEFF, both of Windham, June ye 3rd. 1754."
This copy is in Town Clerk’s Office of the Town of Windham.
Attest: Hepsy Bodru - Asst. Town Clerk
Birth. Wheeler’s History of Stonington, Conn.; page 531. Savage’s Genealogical Dictionary of New England; Vol.3p.388. Bowler Genealogy, page 31.
Death History of Stonington, page 531. Savage’s Gen. Dictionary of New England, 3-338 Bowler Genealogy, page 31.
Eleanor, wife of Major Brian Pendleton survived her husband. Savage’s Gen. Dict. New England, 3-338
Birth of James; manuscript of the Pendleton Genealogy (now in press)
Death " " ; History of Stonington, page 532. Austin’s Gen.Dictionary of Rhode Island, p.149.
Marriage " " " " " " Savage’s Gen. Dict. of New England, Vol.3-388. " " " " " Vol.2-271
Birth of Hannah; " " " " " Vol.2-271 Death of " Austin’s Genealogical Dict. Rhode Island, p.149.
Birth;
Brian Pendleton, born 1599, died 1681, in Portsmouth, N.H., was elected Deputy President of the Province of Maine to act as President in absence of the President Danforth. This title is equivalent to that of Deputy Governor, which office is duly established and provided for by the Georges Charter, which did not lapse with the annexation of the Maine Colony with that of Massachusetts Bay. Therfore the President and Deputy President of Maine after the annexation, are true Governor and Deputy Governor.
All descendants of BRIAN PENDLETON are eligible to the Order Colonial Governors.
James Pendleton, son of Brian, married April 29, 1656, Hannah, daughter of Edmund and Ann Goodenow, and died Nov.29, 1709.
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"BRYAN PENDLETON, 1599-1681, Mass., & N.H.
Deputy from Watertown to the General Court of Massachusetts 1636, 1637, 1638, 1647, 1648. Deputy from Portsmouth to the General Assembly of New Hampshire 1654, 1658, 1660, 1661, 1663.
Major of Militia, Saco, Maine, from 1668 to 1672.
Deputy-President of Maine, 1680."
Register of the Connecticut Society of Colonial Dames of America, page 275.
"Major Brian Pendleton was born in 1599, in England. He first settled in Watertown, and was made freeman there Sept.3, 1634, and was Deputy for six years to the General Court. He moved to Sudbury and helped settle that town, and was selectman for several years. From Sudbury he went to Ipswich. He was a member of the famous artillery company of Boston. He moved to Portsmouth, N.H. about 1651, and was Deputy there for five years. In 1653 he purchased two hundred acres of land near Winter Harbor, Saco, Maine. After a few years, he returned to Portsmouth, where he made his will, which was proved April 15, 1681. He was an eminent man in his day, and held the office of captain and major for many years, besides important civil and military offices."
History of Stonington, Conn., page 531; Major Pendleton’s will is given on page 722.
"Bryan Pendleton of Watertown, an early settler, made freeman 3 Sept. 1634, helped to settle Sudbury of which he was selectman some years but representative before and after for Watertown, between 1636 & 48, six years; removed to Ipswich perhaps, certainly to Portsmouth of which he was representative some years then removed to Saco, Winter Harbor, thence after nearly a dozen years, driven by Indian war, Aug. 1676, went again to Portsmouth, there made will 9 Aug.1677, which was proved 5 April 1681; he was captain and major many years; left wife Eleanor, son James and daughter Mary, who marr. Seth Fletcher."
Savage’s Genealogical Dictionary of New England; Vol.3, p.388.
Capt.JAMES PENDLETON, only son of Major Brian Pendleton, was first at Watertown, then at Sudbury, Mass., and came to Westerly, R.I., in 1669. He was in the early Colonial Wars. He was admitted to the First Church of Stonington, Conn., Nov.7, 1680. He married 1st. Mary,......, who died Nov.7, 1655; he married 2nd. April 29, 1656, Hannah Goodenow, daughter of Edmund Goodenow, and had nine children. His will was dated Feb.9, 1702; he died Nov.29, 1709. Ann, his fourth child be second wife, was born Nov.12, 1667, mar. Eleazer Brown.
History of Stonington, page 531; on page 22, Capt. Pendleton’s name appears on the "list of the English volunteers in the late Narragansett War."
From Smith’s "Military and Civil List of Rhode Island; Vol.1,p.vi
Members of Sir Edmund Andros’ First Council held at Boston. From 1687-1691; Court of Quarter Session held at Newport and Rochester; Capt. James Pendleton one of the members present.
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From Savage’s "Gen. Dict. New England," Vol.3-388.
James Pendleton of Watertown, son of Bryan, had wife Mary who died 7 Nov.1655 and he married second wife 29 Apr.1656, at Sudbury, Hannah, dau. Of Edmund Goodenow; their children were Bryan, b.27 Sept.1659; Joseph, b.Dec.1661; Edmund prob.24 June 1664; Ann 12 Nov.1667; Caleb 8 Aug.1669 and James. He was one of the founders of the first church at Portsmouth, N.H. in 1671; but perhaps had his father’s love for removing and lived at Stonington, Conn., 1674-8, then called captain and served in war against Philip 1676; was at Westerly R.I. 1686-1700."
Benjamin Neff - Fourth Generation
Benjamin(4) Neff was born 16 May 1734 (Windham VR Vol. A, p 145), and was baptized 28 July 1734 at the Hampton (Connecticut) Congregational Church. He died 25 May 1806 (Windham Probate Record). Benjamin married Ann (21) Neff on 13 June 1754 (Hampton Cong. Church Rec. Vol. 1, p. 189), who was born 12 Aug 1736 at Stonington, Comm (Windham VR Vol. 1, p. 311) and died 11 Feb 1814 (Probate Rec.), the daughter of Clement(3) and Patience (Brown) Neff.
Benjamin Neff was on the Lexington Alarm List of 1775, from the town of Windham (Conn. Men in the rev. p. 26 and Conn. Archives Rev. War 1763-1789, Vol. 6, p. 8). At the Windham Town Meeting on 3 Dec 1781, Benjamin Neff was elected one of the titheing men.
Benjamin Neff and his son, Oliver Neff of Windham, sold to James Howard of Hampton and Zebulon Tracy of Windham, a certain piece of land in Windham "a few rods east of the mills formerly know by the name of Gennings Mills, for the purpose of to and from sd mills & laying logs and timber boards and logway being butted and bounded as followeth: Beginning at the north west corenr of Neffs Orchard about 6 rods south of the saw mill," etc. "Personally appeared Mr Benjamin Neff, signer and sealer, 16 Mar 1792," and "Personally appeared Oliver Neff, signer and sealer of the foregoing 31 May 1792." (Windham Land Rec. Vol S, p. 603).
The Will of Benjamin Neff and the settlement of his estate is to be found in folder #2820 at the Conn. State Library, probated 29 April 1806. the will "bequeaths to my beloved wife Anna Neff all my moveable estate after my just debts and funeral charges are paid, to be hers and her assigns forever and I give and devise the use and improvement of all my real estate during her natural life and I do make and constitute and appoint her, the said Anna, to be the sole executor of this, my last will and testament."
Signed Benjamin Neff
Witnesses
David Neff
Oliver Neff
10. CLEMENT3 NEFF, JR. (Clement 2 , W1lliam1), born 17 May 1711, at Westerly, R.I.; married 12 Dec. 1735, at the North Stoning ton, Conn. Congregational Church, PATIENCE BROWN (Ch. Rec.), daughter of Eleazer and Ann (Pendleton) Brown, born 28 Dec. 1707, Stonington, Conn. (V.R. Vol. 2, p. 2). The birth and marriage of Clement Neff Jr. are recorded in the Vital Records of Windham, Conn., Vol. 1, p. Jll. Clement Neff Jr. was a child of four when his parents moved from Westerly, R.I., to Windham, Conn. He was in his early twenties when he moved to Stonington with his father, mother and sisters Mary and Ann in 1735. In less than a year he had wooed and won the hand of Patience, daughter of their wealthy neighbor, Eleazer Brown. Clement and Patience lived in Stonington until his father's death in 1746, presumably running the farm for his father in his old age. After his father's death, he and his sister sold the land their father had given them in his will, to Eleazer Brown, his brother-in-law. The deed in the Stonington Land Records Vol. 16-17, states that "Clement Neff, Mary Neff and Anna Button, all of Stonington• sold for the sum of three hundred and forty-three pounds a parcel of land containing ninety-eight acres. One of the boundaries passed through the Cedar Swamp, one of the old (North) Stonington land marks, All three signed the deed.. The 1;1.ppearance of the name of "Anna Button• is of interest here, showing that Clement's youngest daughter, had married her cousin Daniel Button (s. of Daniel & Anna (Bell) Button, gr.a. of Mathias & Mary (Neff) Button), whose signature is affixed, as a witness, to Clement Neff' s w111.· Ann was not mentioned in her father's will, e,s he had probably provided for her when she married, but her name on the land deed cleared the title for Eleazer Brown, the purchaser. Clement and his family, his mother and sister Mary then returned to Windham, Here Mary Neff and Mary Neff Jr., bought a tract of land for ~500 in the part of Windham now known as the town of Chaplin, Conn. On JO June, 1747, Mary Neff and Mary Neff Jr. deeded 50 acres to Clement •in consideration of ye Love, Good will and affection that we have and do bear unto Clement Neff" etc. (Book I, p. 77). On the same day, the two Marys bought an unspecified tract of land "on Beaver Brook Hi1111 for 1,126. The two purchases of land must have had cons1qerable acreage as shown by subsequent sales of land without further purchases. It is interesting to note, also, how the value of land increased rapidly in the next few years. On 23 April' 1751, Mary Neff and Clement Neff Jr. sold 115 acres to Aaron Geer for 1500 pounds. On 8 June 1752, Mary Neff and Clement Neff Jr. sold 141 acres to Henry Farnum for 1300 pounds. In July 1758, Clement Jr. sold 70 acres for 70 pounds to Samuel Andrus, in two pieces of 24¼ acres exclusive of a burying place, and 45 J/4 acres, Clement Neff of Windham, yeoman; for ~12 paid by John Bond, sold land 1n Windham 1st Soc. on JO May 1777 although deed was not entered until 21 July 1785. In a final deed dated 3 Nov, 1792, he sold to his son, John Neff, for "one hundred pounds and parental love" a tract of land beginning at a corner of the land now belonging to David Canada Jr., eastward on Joshua Abbe Jr. to Ephraim Deans corner with the highway excepted,• etc. nMr. Clement Neff personally appeared" to enter the deed 10 July 1793. (Book U, p. 459). At this time Clement was 82 years old, so it is presumed he was turning over all his remaining property to his son John for enough cash to make him reasonably independent for the remainder of his life. These deeds show that 326 acres were sold while still retaining a con siderable amount for this final sale to son John. Clement Neff served in the French and Indian War. He is first listed in May 1755 in Capt. Slapp1s Co., "in ye pay of New York in building Forts & removing Encroachments on his Majesties Lands to ye northward of Albany" (Conn. Hist. Soc. Coll. Vol. 9, p. 16), and again in Capt. Slapp1s Co. Oct. 31 to Dec., 1755 (p. 71) and again in Capt. Slapp1 s 4th Co. Apr. 5 to Dec. 2, 1756 (p. 132). In the Campaign of 1757, he enlisted March 7th as a drummer, in Col. Lyman's Reg1t., under Capt. Slapp. In the Campaign of 1758-61 (Vol. 10, p. 67) he again enlisted as a drummer in the Tenth Co. under Capt. Jedediah FaY•
On 12 Oct. 1757, Clement Neff deeded a piece of his farm to the Town of Windham to be used as a Burying Ground and the following deed is of interest. Windham Town Records Book L, pages 455, 456. "To all People to Whom this deed of Gift Shall come know ye that I Clement Neff of Windham in the County of Windham in the Colony of Connecticutt in New England for sundry causes and good reasons me moving thereunto have therefore granted and do by these presents Be'queath unto Ebenezer Abbee, John Bond, and Oxenbridge Davis, Inhabitanae of 5d,town of Windham and to the Rest of the Inhabitance of S town forever a certain Peice of Parcea of Land Being and Lying within the Town Ship of Windham afore S and contains about one Hundred and Twelve Rods of Land and is part of the Farm I now dwell on and is abutted and bounded as Followeth. The north west corner is a stake and a heap of stones about it which Stake and heap of atones stands in the line Between my own Land and the Land of Aaron Geer then the Line runs South by sa Geers Land Seven Rode to a white oake Stake with Stones about it then the Line turns easterly and runs fifteen Rods to a Black oake stake with atones about it then the l4ne turns northerly and Runs eight Rods to a white oake Stake with Stones about it then the Line turns and Rune Westerly thirteen rods to the first Mentionea Bounds Which given granted and Bargained Promises to give to the S Ebenezer Abbee, John Bond. and Oxenbridge Davis and the Rest of the Inhabitance of the Town of Windham forEver for the use of a Burying Place to Bury their dead In and for no other use it Being a Place where there is Several persons Buried all Rea~ To have and To hold all the above granted premises to them the S EbenZ Abbee, ~ohn Bond end Oxenbridge Davis and their Successors Inhabitance of B Town. fore!er for the. use of a Burying Place and also free Liberty to go to S Burying Place to Bury the Dead when there shall be occasion I sd Clement Neff Do by these Presents Bind myself and my heirs to warrant and Defend the above granted Premises from the Lawful Claims whereof I have here unto sett my hand and Seal this 12th Day of October 1757. Stephen Fuller his Ezra Kingsley Clement x Neff and seal mark Steohen Fuller Justice of the Peace•
Thanks to this deed it has been possible to locate the farm lends of Clement Neff Jr. Anyone wishing to visit the place, should take the road to the Chewink Cemetery which turns off of the main road from Williamantic, Conn. to Providence, R.I., at the State Forest in Chaplin. Shortly before coming to the Cemetery, one comes to a large barn on the left side of the road. Just before coming to the barn there is what looks to be an entrance road to a house well back from the road, on the right, but it is really the beginning of an old abandoned road which curves back thru the country. The road's outlines are still visible although the area is overgrown with grass and is now part of a pasture. After passing the house, the road curves to the left and slightly downhill with Beaver Brook on the left. In Clement's day, a church stood at the bend of the road, the Town Clerk tells me, and the home of Clement Neff Jr. was the first house beyond the church. Further along this road is the Burying Ground described in the foregoing deed, and next beyond that, was the farm where Clement's mother and sister lived when they first moved back from Stonington. But today, all the houses are gone and the Church and its records are gone. All but one or two or the gravestones are weathered down to stumps or have been carried off, so that the graves of Clement Neff Jr., his wife Patience, his mother Mary Neff and his children Hannah and Matthew are impossible to determine.
ANCESTRY OF PATIENCE BROWN Patience (Brown) Nerr•s father was Eleazer Brown, born 4 Aug. 1670 at Lynn, Mass, the son of Thomas & Mary (Newhall) Brown.